I don’t believe Jalen Milroe is a starting caliber NFL quarterback. I appreciate we’re only two years into his pro-career — but you don’t always need a lot of time to pass judgement.

He is too hesitant in the pocket. He is not processing quickly enough. He hasn’t shown an ability to throw with timing and anticipation. He appears determined to prove himself as a passer, rather than leaning on his ‘super power’ which is his ability to run.

Mike Macdonald was even featured on Hard Knocks encouraging Milroe to use his legs more often. The quarterback didn’t appear entirely receptive to the advice.

In truth, it’s probably his only way to stick in the league.

We don’t have to judge Milroe simply on his time in Seattle either. In his final year at Alabama, he was not a good passer.

He finished the year with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. 10 of those 16 touchdowns came against Western Kentucky, Mercer, USF and a 5-7 Wisconsin team. In games against LSU, Oklahoma, Auburn and Missouri he failed to register a passing score.

His completion percentage for the year was 63.3% and he finished with just 2834 yards. He had 18 ‘big time throws’ (33rd most in the NCAA, level with freshman DJ Lagway) compared to 10 ‘turnover worthy plays’.

He made up for this with his running production. Milroe scored 20 rushing touchdowns in his final season at Alabama with 879 yards at 5.9 YPC. He had 30 runs of 10 or more yards.

This is who he is as a player. There’s nothing wrong with drafting him with the idea of developing his passing skills. There’s nothing wrong with Milroe wanting to prove he can be more of a complete player either.

Yet we’re two years into the project and we’re still getting plays like this:

Mistakes happen. Interceptions happen. But you can’t combine them with the hesitation he shows in the pocket and his propensity to get sacked as a consequence — particularly on key fourth downs, as he has in the last two games.

At the moment — whether it’s for the Seahawks or anyone else — you couldn’t play Milroe, even in relief, and expect to win a game of football.

I started the piece by noting I don’t think he’s a NFL starter. That might be difficult to come to terms with as a player — but there are only 32 starting jobs and if we’re being honest, there aren’t 32 starter-level signal-callers. It was always going to be a long-shot that Milroe would join the ranks of legit starter.

What he needs to do now is show to the Seahawks, and anyone else watching, that he might not be the most accurate timing-and-rhythm passer but he can still help if you need him to play a game or three. He does that by maxing out what he does well — running — whilst letting the passing game play off that.

We saw it against Tennessee when he ripped off a 16-yard scamper. Yet it was his only rushing attempt in the whole second half. Keep doing it. Use your legs.

Is it a sustainable way for a quarterback to play for a 17-game campaign? Of course not. But the truth is, that’s never likely to be Milroe’s destiny. He needs to show that he can be a worthy backup who can come in if the starter is injured and have a skill that enables you to win a football game. For him, that’s his legs.

You adjust your game-plan and tailor it towards getting him on the move. It doesn’t mean abandoning the pass. It just means scheming him to run, then finding ways to attack opponents if/when they have to adjust to stop him.

It might not work. Teams might defend his running ability well, take away his key trait and then you’re not left with much. At the moment though, that’s what we’re getting anyway. The offense he led on Sunday scored zero points in a whole half. He has to listen to his Head Coach and run more often. It’s his only shot to stick.

Chase Daniel made $42m in his career as a backup quarterback. It can be a great life if you find a way to make yourself useful. Milroe has to have that mentality, at least for now. He can try so hard to prove he can be a pocket passer and end up without a gig — or he can show to the Seahawks or any other suitor that there’s something worth sticking with here.

At least by doing that he’ll buy himself more time to develop as a passer, if it’s even possible. Right now, he just isn’t showing enough to warrant stashing.

The thing that might save him is there doesn’t appear to be a heated battle for the last few spots on Seattle’s 53-man roster. If there was, he might be in trouble. This isn’t a team over the years that has typically carried three quarterbacks in the John Schneider era.

I’m also not convinced if he was cut that someone else would claim him. He isn’t showing anything to believe that would be the case.

When he was drafted there was talk of him being a X-factor weapon with a ‘Milroe package’. They had to shelve that idea almost immediately because any time he was on the field bad things seemed to happen. He didn’t impress against Green Bay last season when given the opportunity to show what he can do. Through two pre-season games this year, it’s more of the same.

It’s possible he just doesn’t have what it takes. The Seahawks aren’t going to stick by him and give him another year just because they spent a late third round pick on him. In this final game against the Chiefs he needs to make some plays. His best opportunity to do that is get on the move. Don’t hesitate. Don’t linger too long trying to find a wide open throw over the middle. Don’t stand patting the football. Get on the move and create.

He will have a role as a backup quarterback in the league if teams believe he can at least make some plays and score some points — even if it’s not necessarily with his arm. It’s time for Milroe to lean on what he does better than most and not try to be something he isn’t.

You’re not a pocket passer. You probably never will be. Be the best running quarterback you can be.

Why I’m not worried about Jason Myers

In week 18 last season, Jason Myers missed two field goals against the 49ers. It helped make what could’ve been a one-sided pasting on the scoreboard a little too close for comfort.

Given the Super Bowl was due to be played in the same Santa Clara stadium a few weeks later, it was concerning.

So what happened when the Seahawks ended up qualifying for the showpiece finale? Myers kicked all five of his field goals and two extra points. He was a strong candidate to be Super Bowl MVP.

In total in the playoffs, Myers was 8/8 on field goals and 11/11 on extra points. Nobody remembers the bad game in week 18.

In pre-season so far, he’s missed a couple of kicks against the Titans and one against the Cowboys. Some people are fretting.

Don’t.

Myers, like all kickers, is only human. He has had bad games in his career. He has had spells where Seahawks fans have doubted him.

Yet the truth is, he’s always bounced back from these moments. He has genuinely been fantastic for the Seahawks. It wasn’t just the Super Bowl last season either. He won them the game against the Colts too — a critical win in the race for the NFC West title.

He’s going to miss kicks. He’s not going to be perfect. I was really surprised to see some fans thinking out loud, saying they were ‘concerned’ about his pre-season display.

If, one month into the season, he’s consistently missing kicks — let’s have a conversation about it then. Not now.

Being a trustworthy kicker isn’t about nailing every attempt. It’s whether you can reliably trust your man more often than not in key moments.

The Seahawks can do that with Myers. Over a number of years he warrants more faith than to overreact to an iffy pre-season.

Will the Seahawks explore the trade market?

I think it’s possible — at both safety and receiver.

I’m not convinced they will feel comfortable with just D’Anthony Bell and AJ Finley backing up Julian Love and Ty Okada. Especially given the injury situation with Nick Emmanwori.

If Tory Horton is due to miss time — Mike Macdonald is being extremely vague about his status — and with Jake Bobo now out for the year, this could be another area they look at.

It’s highly unlikely to be a big-name, blockbuster move. But they might be seeking to add.

Cut-down days are often talked about as a solution but the reality is players cut by weaker teams rarely appeal. The Seahawks, in the middle of a Championship window, are likely to be more pro-active.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a move or two. Receiver and safety are the two positions I think that are most likely to be targeted.

If you missed yesterday’s live stream discussing these topics, check it out below: